Gone to the Goats!

Bronwyn and I spent last Sunday on a local food adventure. We went out to St. Ignatius Farms in the north end of Guelph, where they were hosting an open house and The Guelph Wellington Local Food Festival. The hot topic around Guelph these days is Local Organic Produce. We always take for grant it what is in season in our local area. It's not like a grocery store where you can just walk in and get apples, berries and carrots year round. Not only does it help local farms, thus stimulating local economy but you get to enjoy top-of-the line organic vegetables, grains, cheeses, fruit, meat and fibres. Ever since Headwaters this has always been on my mind, to think more consciously about where are food comes from, it's environmental impact and the quality of taste, colour and texture. Sure, it's a slow and inconvenient way of preparing meals sometimes, but I love the idea of slowing down and going back to the old way of life and respecting the nature of small scale farming and the organic processes. I love food, and what is better than going out on a hot, muggy Sunday to enjoy it. One thing in particular that is fresh right now is garlic scapes! The tender beginnings of the garlic flower bud, found in the curl of the plant, sweet and 10x stronger than garlic its self, you chop it up like a fine herb and use a small amount in stir-fry, marinades, roasts, sauces, preserves and soups. After listening to some local folk music, enjoying some rhubarb lemonade and playing with hula-hoops, we drove to a local goat farm in Arthur. There Bronwyn and I met several cute goats with personalities, learned how they gather milk, made cheeses, spreads, ice cream, yogurt and meats. We also met two dogs, pigs, chickens and a pony. Bronwyn loved every minute and is always asking "Can we get a goat for the backyard?" She and her friend Sol, fell in love with a goat named "Thor" who they climbed around in the barn with. I loved two baby boys named: Baby New and Baby Poo, they followed me around trying to suck on my figures.